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November
29,
2005 |
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Metro
Citizens’ Advisory Council Names Person of the Year Former
California State Senator James R. Mills, largely responsible for the
rebirth of light rail transit in the United States, has been selected as
the “Person of the Year” by the Metro Citizens’ Advisory Council (CAC). Senator
Mills will be honored at a luncheon scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Friday,
Dec. 2 in the Metro Board Conference Room located on the Third Floor of
Metro’s Headquarters Building, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles. Senator
Mills was President Pro Tem of the Senate for ten years. As a state
senator, Mills introduced bills which imposed sales tax on gasoline to
fund transportation development, allowed a portion of state highway
funds to be used to build guideway systems, and set up funds for
multimodal projects. This
is the second year that the CAC has recognized a “Person of the
Year,” an honor recognizing individuals who has significantly
contributed to improving public transportation. Last year’s recipient
was Congressman Adam Schiff. A
San Diego native, Senator Mills served in the State Assembly from 1960
to 1966 when he was elected to the State Senate. During his 16 years
with the Senate, Mills served as Chairman of the Transportation
Committee, the Elections and Reappointment Committee, the Rules
Committee and the Democratic Caucus. In
1977 President Jimmy Carter appointed Senator Mills to the Amtrak Board
of Directors and Mills served as chairman of its board from 1980 to
1981. Mills is an ex-official board member of both San Diego Trolley and
San Diego Transit. The senator also served as Chairman of the Los
Angeles-San Diego Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN) which oversees the
implementation of additional intercity rail passenger service and the
necessary track improvements. California
Governor George Deukmejian appointed Senator Mills to San Diego’s
Metropolitan Transit Development Board in 1984, and Mills serviced as
the board chair from 1985 to 1994. Mills
was curator of the Serra Museum, taught in the public school system, and
has written a number of books including a history book of San Diego. Metro-173 |